Kevin Abbring is the latest rising star in line to face the serious competition ahead in next year’s FIA European Rally Championship. The 24-year-old, a former frontrunner in the Junior world championship, will get the chance to revive his international career with a six-event programme in the 2014 ERC. Dutchman Abbring will drive a new-generation 208 T16 for the Peugeot Rally Academy in the ERC as his prize for winning the French 208 Rally Cup, a title he clinched on the Condroz Rally in Belgium recently when long-term leader and ERC 2WD star Stéphane Lefebvre retired from the lead with fuel pump failure. And Abbring could increase his programme if he can secure additional finance to take in more rounds. Meanwhile, Lefebvre and Vasily Gryazin revealed last week they were planning ERC campaigns next season. Gryazin, from Russia, hopes to take part on all 12 rounds in a Ford Fiesta S2000, while Lefebvre is trying to raise the budget to compete in a 208 T16, having shone in a 208 R2 on selected ERC 2WD events in 2013.

Breen happy to wait for new-generation Peugeot

Craig Breen says he is happy to wait for Peugeot’s new-generation 208 T16 to be readied for competition use. The French make’s R5 challenger will be eligible for next year’s FIA European Rally Championship just as soon as it is homologated in early 2014. Speaking to the Inside ERC programme, Breen said: “In March they will have a top class rally car ready to win European championship rallies. Nobody wants them to rush the car and release it too early, there could be some problems – that’s not what Peugeot Sport’s brand is about, so it’s better that they do things like this and I’m really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of it.” Irishman Breen, 23, is set to embark on a major ERC title assault in 2014 driving for Peugeot Rally Academy. He scored five podiums in this year’s championship battle.